Up, I should have ended. Screwing things up. This was one I couldn't afford to. He made me so happy that I'd almost forgotten what was at stake—my professional reputation, getting out from beneath Mitch's thumb, my future happiness.

  I clutched my phone to my heart. Before I could stop myself, I went to my studio and popped out a quick watercolor drawing and hand-lettered the quote You light up my life over it digitally.

  It was only when I finished and stood back to look at it that I realized I hadn't been this inspired in forever. I was almost breathless with excitement. Bye-bye, creative block!

  I texted Dex a picture of my art. You light up my life! That's my subscription box theme! Thank you for the inspiration! It's perfect.

  I already had a zillion ideas running through my mind so fast that they were stumbling over each other. A pink sparkly candle. A smart light bulb. A glittery bridal T-shirt…

  My pleasure. Wow. That's a fantastic piece. I'd buy it in a subscription box. If I were a bride…

  I hope you're never a bride.

  Not planning on it.

  Good.

  Before I showered, I went around replacing every light bulb in my house that I could. There were some tricky decisions about what kind of bulb should go where. But in the end I did it, downloaded the app, and figured out how to control them from my phone and my Echo Dot.

  "Welcome to the twenty-first century, little house," I said when I was done.

  I really would have liked to play helpless damsel in distress to get Dex to come over. But I resisted, opting for "absence makes the fake heart grow fonder" instead.

  But really because I didn't trust myself.

  Friday

  Shelby

  I was in full-on furious work mode on my new subscription box. There was so much to do. And I was way behind.

  My neighbor, who was quite the retired handyman, came by and double-checked my gate and fence for me. I had thought it just hadn't fully latched or the wind had blown it open. But I couldn't take the chance of Bella getting out again while I was away for the weekend. Or anytime. He made a few tweaks and pronounced it escape-proof.

  I had a meeting with Carol, the dog-sitter Dex had picked for Bella in the afternoon. She'd promised to stop by the house to get the lay of the land. According to her dog-walking profile, she was semi-retired and dog-walked and dog-sat to supplement her income. She lived just a few blocks away and walked over. That was service.

  When the doorbell rang, Bella went her usual crazy. It may have been my imagination, but she looked a little let down when it was only a single woman in her early sixties standing on our front porch. Bella was expecting Dex, maybe?

  "I'm Carol, the temporary dog mama. Dex sent me."

  "Shelby. Come in." I stood aside and gestured for her to come in past me.

  "This must be Bella." She crouched down to Bella's level and let Bella sniff her.

  Bella warmed to her immediately. She was soon basking in Carol's petting and attention. It was clear they were going to get along famously while I was gone.

  "You have a way with dogs," I said. "Bella doesn't bond with just anybody. Believe it or not, she has a bit of guard dog in her. Not that she's big enough to fend anyone off. But she's good at nipping at ankles when she wants to be. Just don't let her herd you around. She likes to be boss."

  "Oh, I know Corgis." Carol stood. "I've watched many of them. I used to have one myself."

  "You obviously don't have dogs now," I said. "Not if you're doing a lot of dog-sitting?"

  "No. Sadly. After my last dog passed, I retired and began travelling too much to be a good dog mama. Now I get my puppy hits by dog-sitting when I'm home." Carol had a kind, maternal way about her that was reassuring. I could see why she was in demand and one of Dex's best.

  As part of the service, Carol would be staying at my house while I was gone. That was why I'd asked about her owning dogs. It wouldn't seem good for her to leave her own dogs alone so much.

  "You can rest easy about me staying here," she said, as if reading my mind. "All Puppy Love sitters undergo thorough background and fingerprint checks before being allowed to take their first job. I've been working for Puppy Love since the company was no more than a pup herself. Ask Dex. Would you like to see my credentials? We are always happy to provide them."

  "That won't be necessary. I trust Dex and Puppy Love."

  "Have you known Dex long?" she asked.

  "No. A few days, to be honest."

  "And yet you trust him already?" She got a sparkle in her eye. "He has a magnetic effect on people, doesn't he? When he wants to."

  "I shouldn't trust him, is that what you're saying?"

  "No. Just the opposite. Dex is reliable. But maybe that's not what a young woman who's interested in him wants to hear." She lifted an eyebrow.

  I opened my mouth to protest that I wasn't interested in Dex. And caught myself just in time.

  The lady doth protest too much. You're supposed to be instantly in love with him, Shel.

  Which was a little too close to the truth.

  "Reliable is faint praise," Carol continued. "No guy wants to be damned by it. But there's nothing ordinary about Dex. He's the best dog guy I've ever met. And also the smartest person I've ever known."

  "Yes, I've heard it rumored he has a high IQ," I said dryly, and winked. "Let me show you around." I gave her a quick tour. I ended by showing her how to run my new lighting system.

  "Oh. You're very high-tech." Carol sounded unsure about the lights and how to operate them.

  "The lights really aren't complicated," I assured her. "You can always override the controls by using the old-fashioned light switch. I'm just getting used to them myself. I have a few bugs to work out in some of the zones."

  I filled her in on Bella's likes and dislikes and schedule. "We're hoping Bella's pregnant." I explained the situation.

  "So Charlie's the culprit, is he?"

  I wasn't sure whether Carol was addressing Bella or me.

  "He's a handsome dog," Carol said. "And a bit of bad boy and a scoundrel. Bitches like that. Don't they?" She spoke in a baby-talk voice to Bella. "I've sat for Charlie many times. I know what I'm talking about. For your sake, I hope Bella is pregnant with Charlie's puppies. They make an adorable couple. They'd have the cutest little Auggie puppies."

  She smiled knowingly. As if the four of us—Dex, Charlie, Bella, and me—would make an equally adorable family.

  I didn't have the heart to tell her that I needed at least one full-blood Corgi puppy, and that the odds were long we'd ever be a family.

  "I think Bella's going out of heat now," I said quickly, not wanting to give myself away. "She looks like she's your innocent good bitch next door, but she has a wild streak. As we know. You can't trust a bitch in heat to behave herself.

  "I had my neighbor check the gate she escaped from, and the entire backyard fence. He assures me it's safe and solid. No more escapees." I gave Bella a look.

  "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on her."

  By the time Carol left, I was completely confident that Bella and the house were in good hands.

  After she left, I got a text from Dex. Bring your golf shoes.

  I don't golf.

  Bring shoes you can golf in, then. It seems we've been signed up in a duffers' foursome for Saturday afternoon. There's no getting out of it. Believe me, I tried.

  I don't have clubs.

  Neither do I. We'll rent some. There's not any room for them in the car, anyway.

  Any other surprise activities I should be prepared for?

  Just the usual.

  What do you mean by that?

  With my gang, be prepared for anything.

  That's reassuring.

  I'd already packed a cute pair of tennis shoes. I was good. I hoped.

  I had one more task for the day. I went to the store and got everything I needed to make chocolate chunk cookies, premium ingredients including locally made chocolate to chunk up instead of chocolate chips. Double-strength vanilla. Yum.

  I had an evening of baking ahead of me.

  Dex, I'm so going to out-romantic you. Will bake for love. Will bake for silence. Will bake because I'm so exceptionally happy.

  But just how much love was I going to bake into those cookies?

  Chapter 14

  Saturday

  Shelby

  I had everything packed and waiting by the front door, ready for Dex to pick me up. Carol arrived at nine forty-five and kept trying to hide her knowing smile as I tried to hide how nervous I was and kept sneaking peeks out the window, looking for Dex.

  The dress, as I liked to call it, hung on the coat rack in the entry. A pretty box of chocolate chunk cookies sat on the entry table, specially baked and packed by me. My new pink suitcases sat side by side. Bella ran around like she knew something was up and was afraid she was going to miss out on the action.

  I had dressed in the cute little sundress I'd originally planned to wear on my honeymoon. It was flirty and flattering. I had spent way too much on it. You know how brides splurge on things for their wedding? It was one of those treats for a hopefully once-in-a-lifetime experience.

  Today was the perfect day to wear it. Even the weather was cooperating. The sun had deigned to shine. And I had the cutest pair of sandals, and a fresh pedicure, and a Brazilian, to match. Always be prepared. I was determined to treat this once-in-a-lifetime experience with as much excitement as if I were going on my honeymoon. When else was I going to get to attend a wedding of the rich and powerful?

  This was an adventure, and a learning experience.

  I'd been able to call on my network and get all my beauty appointments reinstated. I'd gotten my hair cut and highlighted just before I called things off with Mitch. No need to do more for that. But nails, feet, Brazilian, all at the last minute.

  I'd called my friend Nora Nash, the area's top makeup artist. She was originally going to do my wedding makeup. Luckily, she was working in the city on Friday. She squeezed me in between photo shoots and gave me a tutorial on how to get the latest hot makeup looks—evening and daytime. Looks that were flattering on me. Plus a special golden glow, with gold eye shadow, made with touches of real gold dust, and gold highlighter, to complement my gorgeous new dress.

  I didn't have her skill, obviously. She could literally paint a face on someone. But I was artistic and a quick study. Nora dumbed it down enough that after a few practice sessions, I could do a decent job. Plus she gave me cheater notes. I was set.

  Dex roared up in a little red sports car right on time. He pulled in front of the house at the curb.

  Carol looked out the window. "He brought the Porsche 911 Carrera." She whistled softly. "That's his chick-impressing car." She winked. "Lucky girl."

  I sneaked a peek out the window. My heart fell. It wasn't the same car he'd driven last time. It looked awfully small and low to the ground. "Does it have a trunk?"

  That casual statement about not having room for golf clubs was beginning to make sense suddenly.

  Carol laughed. "Of course not! It's not a practical family car. It's a drive-fast-show-off car."

  She must have seen me pale and slide a glance to my waiting suitcases and dress. "Don't worry. It has a back seat. I'm sure there will be plenty of room." Her voice trailed off as she lost her confidence in what she was saying.

  Dex knocked on the door. When I opened it, Bella attacked him with vigorous, happy barking and affection. She practically threw herself into his arms. He had no choice but to pick her up and let her shower him with kisses. "Hey, pretty lady." He winked at me.

  "Come on in." I stepped back to let him in.

  He paled when he saw my pile of luggage. And I didn't think he'd even noticed the dress yet. I had counted on it getting a back seat all to itself.

  "Dex!" Carol stepped up to hug him—enthusiastically, I must say.

  "Carol. Good to see you!" He hugged her with vigor and affection with one arm, Bella snuggling into him in the other.

  I seemed to be the only one not getting any loving from him. I hoped Carol didn't find that odd or suspicious. Because I would have. Shouldn't he have kissed me hello? Put this on our checklist. We'd better get our act straight and together. Fortunately, we had a car ride to hammer things out.

  Dex stroked Bella beneath her chin. "Glad you're going to be taking care of this girl, Carol. I know you two will hit it off. I have a sixth sense about it."

  "We already do," she assured him.

  Dex looked around my house, taking it in. But I couldn't get a vibe from him as to what he thought of it. In typical fashion, my first thought was Good thing I cleaned.

  The morning was cloudy, with the promise of afternoon sunshine. I had several lamps and lights on. The dark weather showed off the light bulbs he'd given me.

  Dex nodded. "Nice lighting."

  "They're excellent," I said. "But I haven't quite got the kitchen zone programmed and on schedule just right."

  "Ah, you should have asked for help earlier." He looked almost disappointed I hadn't.

  I handed him my phone. "Go to it, tech genius."

  He shrugged. Within a minute, my lights all over the house were perfectly on schedule. And he did it all while balancing Bella in his arms. She refused to be set down.

  "All right," he said. "We'd better get going."

  He eyed my luggage again, looking like he was making mental spatial calculations. "Is this all?" He said it with a certain irony.

  I pointed to the dress hanging on the rack. "As long as you're including that, yes."

  "Oh." He cocked his head, taking a moment to think. Then he nodded and handed Bella back to me.

  He grabbed my suitcases and took them out to the car while I kissed Bella goodbye and gave Carol last-minute instructions. Then I grabbed my purse, jacket, the cookies, and the dress—slung over one arm to keep it from dragging on the ground. I had some skill with carrying wedding dresses, believe it or not.

  I met him at the car. "This is a different car." I tried not to sound too accusatory.

  I watched him struggling to get my last suitcase in the tight back seat, admiring his nice ass in the process. "What happened to the other car? The one from our burger date?"

  "It's not impressive enough for a wedding." His voice was muffled from being bent deep inside the car over the tiny back seat. He maneuvered out, somehow managing not to bump his head.

  "But it has a trunk." Which seemed like a reasonable argument to me. I wasn't a car girl. As long as a car was clean, comfortable, reliable, and not a junker, it was up to my standards.

  "You've got to understand these things," he said, looking completely serious. "You don't show up to these events in an everyday car. It's not done."

  "Fickle societal rules. I see. Then you should have brought the Bentley."

  He laughed outright. "I don't have a Bentley."

  "Good to know. I'm not really a Bentley fan." I actually had no real idea what a Bentley looked like. But I knew they cost a lot.

  He looked at the dress as I held it draped over my arm, visually measuring it.

  "This is my outfit for the wedding," I said. "It's imperative that it not get wrinkled. Ever."

  "Ever's a long time."

  "Not for a packing genius." I smiled sweetly.

  He took the dress and carried it gingerly to the car. I enjoyed the view of his backside again as he struggled to get the large fluff of the dress bag in the back of the car without wrinkling the contents. I heard his soft swearing and watched nervously.

  Finally, he pulled out of the car. The dress bag filled the back seat.

  "I hope we aren't picking up passengers?" I raised an eyebrow.

  "You and me both." He held the car door open for me and closed it for me after I slid in.

  I managed to set my purse at my feet. But the cookies had to go on my lap.

  Dex jumped in the car. He looked in the rearview mirror and nodded. "Good. I can see out the back window right through that tiny opening there. As long as your dress doesn't suddenly decide to put on weight, or shift positions in transit, we're good. We can fly on visuals."

  "My dress better keep her shape for the wedding. Or she's in big trouble."

  "If she doesn't, the car has a backup camera. But it's still illegal to block the back window."

  "Does this car have smart park?" I asked. "That's what I really want."

  "I don't want the car to park for me," he said. "I'll do the driving."

  "I do. I hate parking. I actually would love a completely self-driving car. My car can just chauffeur me around. I can't believe Mr. High-Tech doesn't want a self-driving car and all the latest gadgets."

  "I love driving." He fired up the engine and pulled away from the curb in one smooth, fast move. "But you could give me a few Bond-type gadgets. That would make me happy."

  "You mean laser hubcaps or poison darts?" I waved to Bella and Carol in the window.

  "I was thinking an invisibility cloak or surface-to-air missiles."

  "I don't think those come standard."

  "You're right," he said with a grin. "They're after-market."

  "You didn't kiss me," I said as we approached the stop sign at the end of my street.

  "What?"

  "When you arrived," I said. "You didn't kiss me. Or hug me. Carol was watching like a hawk. I think she was a bit suspicious. We didn't look as lovey-gushy as a couple going away for their first weekend together should. Not at all.

  "We're not going to fool your friends unless we get a little friendlier." I was probably going to regret this, but I slid my hand over and rested it on his thigh.

  "Are you making a pass at me?" He kept his eyes on the road, but I'd gotten his attention.

  "Getting into character," I said. "And seeing how you react to my touch. You're a little stiff."

  "You haven't gotten that far around to be able to tell." He pulled out onto the main road.

  I slipped my hand so that it rested on his inner thigh. If I wasn't mistaken, he tensed. I set the box of cookies on the edge of the seat next to me next to the door and turned to rest my arm on his shoulder.

  "Should I blow in your ear and see how you react?" I traced his jaw line with the tip of my finger. "See how easy this is?"